Brownell Talbot introduced BT Forward, its new strategic plan designed to guide the school through 2032 and prepare students to lead in an increasingly complex world, at the State of the School meeting in November 2025. The plan, developed through an extensive community-driven process involving students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, Board members, and independent consultants, builds on the strong foundation of BT’s previous strategic work while pioneering
new pathways for growth and excellence.
“One of the most important governing activities of Brownell Talbot’s Board of Trustees is to lead the school in establishing a strategic plan every five to seven years in alignment with the ISACS accreditation process,” Head of School Kristi N. Gibbs, Ed.D. shared. “Our new strategic plan builds on the strong foundation established in our previous work, where we defined clear global education competencies and strengthened our curriculum to prepare students for an
interconnected world.”
BT Forward centers on three interconnected pillars that will shape the school’s direction: Experience, Community, and Sustainability. The Experience pillar focuses on equipping students with a forward-thinking approach to AI and technology while developing uniquely human capacities like critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and creativity. The Community pillar commits to building an intentional culture anchored in BT’s core values, ensuring every member feels valued and connected. The Sustainability pillar emphasizes thoughtfully transforming spaces and platforms to empower learning, ensure safety, and unleash innovation.
“Implementation of BT Forward strengthens our school overall, sets a long-term sustainable course to thrive, and most importantly, ensures every student receives the very best education possible,” said Gibbs. “Together, we will ensure that BT continues to prepare students who can think deeply, connect authentically, and create boldly as responsible citizens ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.”
Pillar 1: Experience
Priority 1: Elevate Academic Distinction
Why: Academic excellence is BT’s core strength and the top reason families enroll. We will preserve our edge and evolve our programs for a changing world.
Key Strategies:
- Identify and launch signature programs in emerging disciplines.
- Define and refine our comprehensive academic approach in light of the increased importance of critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and human creativity in an AI‐dominated universe.
- Build a Portrait of a BT Teacher to serve as the backbone and compass for teacher professional development, mentoring, and hiring.
- Report and celebrate academic outcomes (college acceptances, test scores, signature projects).
- Engage BT community connections including parents, as guest speakers and mentors, particularly for signature programs.
Priority 2: Strengthen the Student Experience
Why: We will create an environment where every student feels valued as a contributor, developing stronger connections to learning and greater confidence as a leader.
Key Strategies:
- Build a student life framework that integrates academics, athletics, arts, activities, service, wellness, and leadership, and is informed by student voices.
- Define and formalize how BT will amplify student voices to directly contribute to decision‐making and culture-building.
- Build a school-wide leadership program that develops student leadership capacity through organic teachable moments and designed experiences for each grade, anchored in the know‐how of at least one teacher at each division.
- Develop an athletics-specific strategic plan that clearly delineates the purpose and goals of athletics within the BT ecosystem.
Pillar 2: Community
Priority 1: BT CommUNITY
Why: To protect and deepen belonging and connection at BT, we will bring our core values to life through intentional individual and institutional culture-shaping actions.
Key Strategies:
- Build a BT CommUNITY culture anchored by a critical few behaviors in order to infuse BT’s core values across campus.
- Engage faculty, staff, students, families, and trustees as champions and culture leaders. Embed shared expectations into classrooms, protocols, programs, rituals, and communications.
- Develop a BT employer value proposition that aligns recruiting, onboarding, and support systems to attract and retain outstanding faculty and staff.
- Strengthen alumni engagement and legacy enrollment by creating meaningful touchpoints that keep graduates connected to BT and inspire them to choose our school for their own children.
Pillar 3: Sustainability
Priority 1: Build for the Future
Why: We will evolve BT’s physical and digital environments to empower learning, safety, and creativity.
Key Strategies:
- Refine and launch a campus infrastructure plan, including updating the current facilities master plan.
- Expand IT capacity, methodology, and approach, including AI readiness, cybersecurity, and equitable tech access.
Priority 2: Ensure Sustainability and Strategic Growth
Why: We will ensure BT’s long-term strength through bold investments, a growing endowment, and clear alignment of mission and market.
Key Strategies:
- At the conclusion of the current Capital Campaign, initiate a campaign that focuses on people (faculty, staff, and students), programs (signature academic offerings), and places (campus improvements).
- Enhance our revenue model to ensure a unified, sustainable approach to independent school fundraising, strategic enrollment management, and value proposition marketing.
- Diversify revenue: expand summer programs, partnerships, rentals, and alumni giving pipelines.
- Position BT as a major community resource in order to strengthen relationships with top tier Omaha business and civic leaders.
